What are some common cat diseases? Rabies, Upper Respiratory Infections,
Feline distemper, Feline Immunodeficiency virus, Feline Leukamia Virus,
Feline Infectious Peritonitis to name a few.
Rabies: Rabies is a viral illness that infected animals transmit
through bite wounds. Rabies can be a fatal illness and it attacks
the nervous system. Nowadays, rabies is more common in cats than
any other domestic animal. By law, cats should be vaccinated against
rabies. Proof of vaccination is necessary to show in the unlikely
scenario of your cat biting someone. In addition to vaccination,
prevent rabies by ensuring your cat is indoors most of the time.
Upper respiratory infections (URIs).
URIs are similar in many ways to the common cold in humans and produce
many of the same symptoms: sneezing, runny nose and eyes, reddened
eyes, fever, and decreased appetite. However, URIs can be much more
serious than common colds—they can be fatal if left untreated. These
airborne viruses are highly contagious; they can be transmitted
to cats through human handling and through contact with other cats
and with inanimate objects such as litter boxes, food bowls, and
grooming tools. Separate any new cat from your other cats for at
least three weeks until you are sure your newcomer doesn't have
any symptoms of a URI.
Prevention is the best approach to URIs—have your cat vaccinated.
But if your cat does come down with cold-like symptoms, contact
your veterinarian right away. The veterinarian will probably prescribe
antibiotics to prevent secondary infections and give you precise
care instructions. Follow them carefully and make sure your cat
eats and drinks sufficiently.
Feline distemper: Also known as feline panleukopenia, feline distemper
shows symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea and
is very highly contagious. Feline distemper transmits through human
contact, infected cats, clothing, hair, paws, food bowls. Best way
to prevent is vaccinatiion.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
FIV is similar to human acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS),
but it is not the same virus and cannot be passed to humans.
This fatal virus attacks the immune system, causing a variety of
symptoms. General signs can include chronic, nonresponding infections;
respiratory problems; appetite loss; persistent diarrhea; and severe
oral infections. FIV is passed from cat to cat primarily through
bites. There is currently no vaccination or cure for FIV.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). FIP is a virus that is almost
always fatal to cats. This virus can take two forms, commonly referred
to as wet (which involves fluid in the abdomen) and dry (which does
not). Both forms of FIP may cause fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea,
and loss of appetite. Blood test usually determines if your cat
is exposed to this kind of virus. Some recently developed vaccines
do give some hope as there hasn't been an effective treatment for
FIP. The best prevention is to keep your cat indoors, up-to-date
on vaccines, and away from strange animals.
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